Preassembled window unit



June 24, 1969 c. P. PENGELLY PREASSEMBLED WINDOW UNIT Filed May 17, 1967 Arran/sys United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 49--457 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A window unit having side jamb members which are mounted against blind stops within a window opening by camming members which press the jamb members against the blind stops as the camming members are affixed to side members of the window opening. The jamb members are spaced from the side members of the window opening to permit expansion and/or contraction of the side members without affecting the alignment of the jambs. There is provided an interconnection between the jambs and a sash unit so that the sash unit retains the jambs in their pre-aligned condition.

Backgrouind of the invention This invention relates to a pre-assembled window unit and, more particularly, to a prime window replacement unit. The inventionis particularly suited for replacing wooden prime window units where the jamb members of the window opening are skewed or warped and are therefore not suited as guide tracks for replacement windows.

In prior art installations, the jamb members of the replacement unit are fastened to the side frame members of the window opening and if those side frame members are not parallel to each other, the replacement jambs become mis-aligned relative to their sash units. If the side frame members of the window opening are mis-aligned, therefore, the installer must employ care when the jamb members of the replacement unit are screwed to the frame members of the window opening. However, even when such care is employed, later shifting or warping of the side frame members of the window opening may pull the installed window jambs into a condition of misalignment.

Attempts have been made to overcome this problem by providing a prime window replacement unit having jambs which are spaced from the side frame members of the window opening. Such units, however, are installed by attaching a face portion of the jamb members of the replacement unit to one leg of an angle bracket and then fastening the other leg of the angle bracket to the side frame member of the window opening. Although such an arrangement facilitates the installation of a replacement window unit, later shifting or warping of the side frame members of the window opening pulls the jamb members of the replacement window out of alignment with respect to the window or screen sash members.

Summary This invention overcomes many of these prior art problems, particularly those problems relating to post installation shifting of the side frame members of the window opening which tends to pull the jamb members of the replacement window out of alignment with their sash members. The invention contemplates an interlock between the jamb members and their sash units which minimizes mis-alignment of the jamb members during and after installation of the replacement unit. The invention further contemplates the provision of a retaining member which is adapted to retain a replacement window unit against a blind stop in the window opening without the 3,451,168 Patented June 24, 1969 lCC necessity for a positive connection between the retaining member and the jamb members of the replacement unit. Such an arrangement permits shifting of the side frame members of the window opening and the window unit retaining means without a similar shifting of the jamb members of the replacement window unit.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a replacement window unit mounted within a window opening according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 2 2 in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 2, illustrating a unit retaining member according to this invention.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawings, a prime window replacement unit 10 is illustrated. The unit 10 is mounted within window opening in a wall 11 and comprises a top frame member 12, a bottom sill member 13, and side jambs 14 and 15 which are connected at their ends to the top frame member 12 and the bottom sill member 13. The jambs 14 and 15 are extruded sections having a first portion forming opposed tracks 16 and 17 respectively. A bottom window sash unit 18 is slidably mounted in the tracks 16 and 17 and conventional counterbalance members 19 may be provided to bias the unit 18 upwardly.

A second portion of each jamb 14 and 15 is provided with a sash guide track 20 and 21 respectively. The tracks 20 and 21 may be extruded sections of a suitable low friction plastic material to permit free vertical movement of a second window sash unit 22 and to thermally insulate the unit 22 from the jambs 14 and 15. Each track 20 and 21 is provided with inwardly turned ilanges 23 and 24 which cooperate with and retain outwardly turned flanges 25 and 26 which are provided on side rails 27 and 28 of the sash unit 22.

The sash unit 22 is freely slidable in the tracks 20y and 21 and is retained in a raised position by detent means (not shown) provided on the sash unit 22 and cooperating with the tracks 20 and 21.

The inwardly turned anges 23 and 24 on the tracks 20 and 2.1 and the outwardly turned flanges 25 and 26 on the side rails 27 and 28 cooperate to retain the jambs 14 and 15 in parallel alignment prior to, during, and subsequent to the installation of the pre-assembled window unit 10 within a window opening.

The window replacement unit 10 is installed within a window opening 'by removing the wooden sash units from the opening and then removing the sash separating strips from their channels 29 and 30. Each window unit 10` is designed so that the jamb-to-jamb dimension of each unit 10 is slightly less than the distance between side frame members 31 and 32 of the window opening. Side blind stop members 33v and 34 and top and `bottom blind stop members 35 and 36 are temporarily removed from their nailed position within the window opening. The replacement unit 10 is then inserted within the window opening and the members 33-36 are nailed in place.

The window unit 10` is then pushed from the outside until the jambs 14 and 15 and the frame members 12 and 13 -butt against the blind stops 33-36. With the window unit 10` so positioned, a pair of spacer elements 37 and 38 are positioned against the mem-bers 31 and 32 respectively. The members 37 and 38 have a iirst leg 39 which ibutts against a storm window mounting strip 40 which is conventionally provided at the window opening. The members 37 and 38 are provided with a second leg 41 which engages the members 31 and 32. Each leg 41 is provided with vertical grooves 42 for a purpose which will hereinafter become apparent.

With the window unit abutting the `blind stops 33-36 and with the members 37 and 38 in place, a pair of window unit retaining members 43a and 43b are installed in the following manner. Each retaining member 43a and 43b is provided with a first leg 44 which is butted against one of the jambs 14 and 15. Each retaining member 43a and 43b further includes a second leg 45 having a pointed foot 46 which cooperates with one of the vertical grooves 42 in the leg 41 of the members 37 and 38. A plurality of screws 47 are inserted through openings 48 in the leg 42 and are screwed into the members 31 and 32. The legs 45 form an obtuse angle of more than 90 lbut less than 180 with respect to the legs 44 so that as the screws 47 force the legs 45 toward parallel alignment with respect to the members 31 and 32 the legs 44 are urged against the jambs 14 and 15 to thereby rmly clamp the jambs against the blind stops 33-36. If desired, other similar retaining members (not shown) may be installed at the top and bottom portions of the window opening.

The invention is not restricted to the slavish imitation of the each and every detail set forth above. Obviously devices may be provided which change, eliminate, or add certain specific details without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A- preassembled window unit mounted within a window opening comprising side jamb members having guide tracks therein, sash units mounted within said guide tracks, the side-to-side dimension of said jamb members being less than the horizontal width of the window opening, blind stop means extending vertically along the sides of the window opening and retaining one side edge of the jamb members within the window opening, retaining means for holding the other side edge of the jamb members within the window opening, said retaining means comprising a strip having an L-shaped cross section, said strip having a first leg engaging the jamb and a second leg extending along the window opening and away from said jamb, means extending through said second leg and into a wall of the window opening for fastening said second leg to the window opening, said rst leg being urged into face-to-face engagement with the jamb by said fastening means as said second leg is fastened to said wall.

2. A preassem'bled window unit according to claim 1 wherein said first and second legs of said L-shaped strip dene an angle greater than 90.

3. A preassembled window unit according to claim 1 wherein said guide tracks and the vertical sides of at least one of the sash units form interlocking means for preventing outward lateral deflection of said jambs.

4. A preassembled window unit according to claim 3 wherein said interlocking means comprises an outwardly extending flange on the vertical side of one of said sash units and an inwardly extending ange on the guide track, said inwardly extending ange extending over said outwardly extending ange.

5. A panel unit mounted within a wall opening comprising blind stop means extending vertically along the sides of the wall opening and retaining one side edge of the panel within the wall opening, retaining means for holding the other side edge of the panel within the wall opening, said retaining means comprising a strip having an L-shaped cross section, said strip having a Iirst leg engageable with the panel and a second leg extending along the wall opening and away from said panel, means extending through said second leg and into a wall of the wall opening for fastening said second leg to the wall opening, said lirst leg being urged into face-to-face engagement with the panel by said fastening means as said second leg is fastened to said wall,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,959,643 5/1934 Plym 49--457 X 2,476,947 7/ 1949 Schunk 49-457 X 3,257,758 6/1966 Johnson 49-463 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner.

J. K. BELL, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 49-463, 505 

